SC order bars all states from releasing convicts: Punjab DGP

Chandigarh: Contrary to ruling Shiromani Akali Dal's move to push for release of Sikh prisoners languishing in various jails across the country, Punjab Police on Wednesday said a Supreme Court order restrains all the states from releasing life sentence convicts.

Explaining the position on the issue on behalf of Punjab government, Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini said here in July last year, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order in a case 'Union of India versus Sriharan Murgan & other', holding that "...the State governments are restrained from exercising power of remission to life convicts."

"These directions are binding on every state including Punjab. As such, since issuance of these orders of the Supreme Court, no pre-mature release can be ordered by the competent authorities in Punjab," Saini told reporters here today.

"We are explaining the position on behalf of the state (Punjab) government and the position is very clear that the government is bound by the SC order, not only the state of Punjab (but) all states are bound (by the order)," the Punjab DGP said.

This entire matter was presently pending before the Constitutional Bench of the apex court, said Saini.

Punjab government, however, has decided to move an application before the Supreme Court in this regard.

"The matter has been examined at the government level. It has been decided that an appropriate application be moved before the Supreme Court praying for an early decision," he said.

Clarifying that police today held media briefing as per the desire of the state government, Saini said, "We are here as per the desire of the government. We have been desired to clarify the position. Let there be no ambiguity in it. The (state) government wants to clarify its position (on this issue)."

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said a deputation of senior Akali leaders would soon meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to take up the issue of release of Sikh prisoners languishing in various jails across the country.

A fortnight ago, Badal had sought "premature release" of 13 "life convicts", five of them jailed in former Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination case and one in bomb blast in New Delhi in September 1993, in which nine persons were killed and 25 others, including M S Bitta, were injured.

Punjab DGP, however, claimed that there was a single convict whose sentence had been completed was still lodged in Punjab jails.